The posting
Job Description
About us:
Harper College was established by referendum in 1965 and opened its doors in September 1967. Named after Dr. William Rainey Harper, a pioneer in the junior college movement in the United States and the first president of the University of Chicago, the College carries forward this legacy of innovation in education.
Today, Harper College stands as one of the nation’s premier community colleges and one of the largest, serving approximately 29,000 students annually in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. Our academic programs are designed to prepare students for rewarding careers and seamless transfer to four-year universities. Harper offers a wide range of associate degree and certification programs, advanced career tracks, workforce training, professional development opportunities, continuing education classes, accelerated degree options for adults, and developmental education programs.
At Harper College, we are committed to facilitating active learning and fostering the knowledge, critical thinking, and life/work skills necessary for participation in our global society. We collaborate with our community partners to enrich the intellectual, cultural, and economic fabric of our district. We believe that excellence in education must thrive within an ethical environment of integrity and respect. We recognize that the strength of our society is rooted in diversity, and it is through synergy that we achieve excellence. Our core values—Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence—guide everything we do.
Aspen Prize
· For the third consecutive time, Harper College is a semifinalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s most prestigious recognition for community colleges that are attaining high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Latine students and those from lower-income backgrounds.
· Twenty colleges are vying for the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s 2026 Prize. Harper was also one of the 25 semifinalists for the 2023 prize.
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)
· In 2023, Harper College was designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.
· This designation provides federal funding to enhance educational programs and support services for Latine and underrepresented students.
· Latine students make up about 30% of Harper's enrollment, reflecting the College's pride in its HSI status.
Equity and Diversity Award
· Harper College received the 2023 Equity and Diversity Award from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA).
· The award honors leadership in promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity for underrepresented groups.
· Harper previously won this award in 2017
Schedule Information: The successful candidate is expected to teach 30 contact hours each year in the Art and Design Department. In addition to teaching 30 contact hours per academic year, a full-time faculty member serves on departmental, divisional and institutional committees; holds six office hours per week (some of which must be on campus); and pursues professional development opportunities related to discipline and pedagogy. Evening and weekend instruction may be required. Instruction may take place in face to face, online, blended and flex formats.
Weeks per fiscal year: Faculty are covered under a 9-month contract period (August thru May) – We seek a full-time colleague to begin August 17, 2027.
This position may include additional periodic studio maintenance and oversight duties in the Summer from May through August. Additional compensation may be awarded for this time period.
Benefits: Health, Dental, Life & Disability Insurance; Sick and Holiday pay; Personal Business; Educational Assistance: Tuition Waivers at Harper & Professional Expense
Position Description and Duties:
The Art and Design Department at Harper College is actively seeking a student-centered, diverse pool of candidates to fill a full-time faculty position specializing in the field of Drawing Foundations with a secondary specialization in either painting, printmaking, animation, or digital art. Successful candidates will assume teaching responsibilities that encompass Drawing Foundations and courses in one or more of the following areas: painting, printmaking, digital art, or animation. Additional responsibilities include maintenance and supervision of the 2D studios, including managing the budget, material ordering and inventory of studio materials, equipment and furniture maintenance, facility upkeep, managing hazardous waste compliance, and training and managing adjunct faculty. This position hires, trains, and supervises lab technicians and works cooperatively with non-credit programming at the college.
The Art and Design Department program provides theory and training in the skills essential to equipping students to transfer to a four-year institution. The Art Department is composed of six full-time faculty who teach foundation courses, painting, sculpture, ceramics, digital photography, printmaking, figure drawing, art history, art appreciation, and film appreciation. Our facilities include a painting/drawing studio, printmaking facility, a Mac lab, ceramics studios with multiple kilns, and a sculpture area with wood and metal studios.
We are looking for candidates who are committed to teaching art within the community college environment, maintaining a safe and thriving 2D Foundations program, and helping the department innovate and develop new curriculum and pathways, including emerging and digital practices.
The successful candidate will be able to teach a wide variety of introductory courses to students of diverse backgrounds and varying levels of college readiness using traditional and alternative delivery methods. We encourage interested candidates to familiarize themselves with our course offerings. This position teaches a standard load of fifteen (15) contact hours per semester (30 contact hours per academic year) in a variety of course modalities and term lengths. The candidate's course load may include reassigned time for chair/coordinator duties. Classes may be offered in day, evening, and/or online modalities, and the candidate may also have the opportunity to teach in the Honors Program, Social Justice Studies Program and "linked" courses (through the college's Learning Communities Program).
Candidates who maintain a professional studio practice and active exhibition record are preferred.
Educational Requirements:
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in an appropriate art discipline required.
Experience Requirements:
Post-secondary teaching experience required (minimum of 3 years).
Application Review Date: Applications are accepted until the position is filled though priority will be given to applications received on or before January 8, 2027.
Special Notes:
*You will not be able to complete the application without attaching the following documents:
· Cover letter
· CV/Resume, focused on teaching with evidence of studio art practice (Does not substitute for a completed application)
· Copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts from regionally accredited institutions
· Teaching Portfolio
· A one-page, single-spaced statement of your teaching philosophy. In your teaching philosophy, please include how you approach classroom management, how you assess students, and how you use instructional technology. How do you ensure students are prepared for transfer or to go through an academically focused art program?
*Official transcripts required upon hire.
*Employment is contingent upon a Criminal Background Check
*Employment Sponsorship is not available
Harper College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create an inclusive learning and working environment where individual differences and identities are respected, valued and embraced. We encourage women, people from historically underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.
